Electronic Transponder Feeder System Performance and Animal Feeding Behavior with Four Feed Availability Times

A Programmable, Multiple Supplement Cattle Feeder for Pasture Use

“…Unless free choice supplements were made available, dairy cows would only have the opportunity to consume supplements two or three times a day F around milking time, and beef animals left in remote pastures would have no opportunity to consume supplements. These practices are contrary to recommendations by Shrestha et al (1983) who reported that a feeding system providing numerous smaller meals of concentrates throughout the day and night has the potential to increase efficiency of nutrient utilization because of reduced variation in the fermentation pattern. Pitt and Pell (1997) agree that more small meals yield more steady rumen conditions; the lower pH fluctuation leads to less milk fat depression.…”

Competitive behaviour of dairy cows at a concentrate self-feeder

“…Supplying a sufficient number of self-feeders to cows can also reduce butting (Olofsson, 1999). Butting could also be decreased by developing the programming and design of a feeding station, feed trough or cowshed (Shrestha et al, 1983;Miller & Wood-Gush, 1991;Wierenga & Hopster, 1991a;Livshin et al, 1995). Besides the behaviour of the cows at the self-feeder, the programming of the feeder also affects the time spent lying in cubicles (Wierenga & Hopster, 1991a and b).…”

“…Cows tend to feed synchronously, although this need is not adequately fulfilled through the use of an automatic concentrate feeding system. Reduced feeding space causes competition among cows (Albright, 1993), which can lead to certain cows becoming displaced from the feeders (Shrestha et al, 1983;Metz-Stefanowska et al, 1993;Olofsson, 1999;Olofsson & Wiktorsson, 2001). Competition increases in relation to the number of cows per feeding station (Olofsson & Wiktorsson, 2001) and ensuing stronger competition can lead to lower milk yields (Harb et al, 1985).…”